'Could have been horrific' - Hutton taxi driver jumped Ingatestone railway crossing
'dangerous': Hutton taxi driver John Parker, 47, leaving court in Chelmsford
Hutton taxi driver John Parker, 47, leaving court in Chelmsford
THE "absentmindedness" of a Hutton taxi driver when he drove through a lowering railway level crossing could have had "horrific consequences," a court heard.
On December 19 last year, taxi driver John Parker, 47, of Hutton Drive, passed through the lowering barriers of the crossing at Ingatestone railway station.
Parker pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle and failing to comply with flashing light signals at the hearing on Wednesday last week at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Sharon Warn said: "He was driving his taxi at the crossing at the time.
"At the time the lights were flashing, the barriers were starting to lower.
"The crossing keeper said it was 2.55pm. He said the motor vehicle approached the crossing and continued to drive over.
"He was concerned that the vehicle would be trapped and he did the emergency stop function on the barriers."
The crossing keeper then took down the car's registration number.
Ms Warn continued: "In interview Parker said it was absentmindedness." She added: "It had potentially fatal consequences with the safety of the public as well."
Representing himself, Parker, who was wearing a grey shirt and black jeans and kept his hands behind his back during the hearing, said: "I was not carrying a fare, I had staff in the car.
"We came out and I went through as slowly as I always do and I did not see any lights.
"I know they were having a lot of works on the railway, whether the sun had been low at the time I do not know.
"The lights have always been flashing but at that time I did not see them."
The chairman of the bench, Susan Greenwood, told Parker: "As I'm sure you appreciate this was an extremely dangerous manoeuvre – if a train had been coming it could have been horrific."
Parker was ordered to pay £272 – £167 in fines, £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £20.
His driving licence was also endorsed with three penalty points.
Speaking after the hearing, British Transport Police (BTP) Inspector Becky Warren said: "Deliberate misuse of crossings is extremely dangerous.
"Every time someone walks or drives on the tracks when the barriers are down, they are risking their life and the lives of other rail-users.
"BTP officers will take action against anyone found committing offences at level crossings."
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